This morning, as on every school day since term began, five schoolchildren will gather, with their parents and supporters, at the gates of New Bridge Integrated College in Co Down - but they will get no farther. writes Dan Keenan
Other pupils filing past come from all religious backgrounds and none. The school, near Banbridge, also holds to a comprehensive ethos by teaching children of all academic ability. It does not use 11-plus results to determine admission and its academic record is enviable, comparable to that of a grammar school that accepts only those who got top grades in the controversial transfer test.
As a result, applications for places outnumber those available by nearly two to one. Of 134 applications, 80 were accepted this year.
The five children spent seven years at nearby Bridge integrated primary school. Their parents, committed to integrated education, believe that loyalty should be rewarded. They want local integrated college places for those who attended the local integrated primary school.
After the morning protest, their children receive home lessons with the guidance of local volunteer teachers.
Parental commitment to the integrated school idea is beyond doubt. The primary school, established in 1990, was assisted when two families put up their homes as equity. The college, which opened five years later, draws pupils from a much wider area - some pupils travel more than 20 miles.
"There should be an automatic follow-on," said Mr Philip Ogle, a father of twins who were not awarded places at the second-level school. He will continue to make his protest at the gates every day "for as long as it takes".
Others protest even though their children were given places.
Ms Kim McAnespie, vice-chairwoman of the board of governors at the integrated primary school, also turns up to lend support. She believes the primary and second-level integrated schools "need to work together".
The problem lies in the fact that the second-level school draws applications from so large an area, she said. More resources from central government would lead to another choice or a bigger school, she added.
The parents recognise that simply finding five extra places would not solve the problem. They know that the five children actually represent dozens more who would like to attend New Bridge but chose not to protest.
Mr David Barn wants a meeting with the school governors to work towards a resolution. In the meantime, he will stand beside his daughter, Emma.
"I believe that the knock-on effect on our children's education will be outweighed by securing entry into New Bridge in the years ahead. The children will actually benefit from being in the school long-term," he said. The protest is a "short-term issue" by comparison.
Some protesters are considering legal options. However, Mr Gerry Jones, vice-principal, is adamant that small class sizes - there are just 20 pupils per room - and a capped school population of 500 are instrumental in making New Bridge the success it undoubtedly is.
The maximising of students' potential, even though they have a wide range of academic abilities, and the quality of the teacher-pupil contact depend on small ratios.
But would a class of 21 or 22 undo all the good work? "Eventually it would have implications for our accommodation. We're on a very small site, and also for staffing," he said.
Answering charges of red tape inflexibility, he admits: "That may be true, but the governors have decided they don't want to jeopardise \ by increasing the intake."
The school principal, Mr Peter Agnew, sympathises with the parents at the gate, sharing their commitment to integration.
"But I also have a responsibility to run this school which is very oversubscribed," he said. That means some people are going to be disappointed."
The protesters have a very strong claim, he said. "But equally, so do those who really want their children to join an integrated primary but, because of the provision in their area, they are unable to do so. More than 60 per cent of our pupils come from an area where there is no access to an integrated primary."
The solution, if one is to be found, will have to involve more people than the protesters at the gate and the governors who set admissions criteria, Mr Agnew believes. Nobody from the board of governors was available for comment.
The Department of Education, 40 miles away near Bangor, was until last October headed by Mr Martin McGuinness. Now, following the suspension of Stormont, there is no local minister, and affairs are under the control of a direct-rule minister, who also has responsibility for other departments.
Neither teachers nor protesters are confident of ministerial intervention. In fact, as Mr Barn claims, there is "no political involvement whatsoever".
In a statement, the Department said the governors provided an undertaking that the admissions criteria would be reviewed, but this had not happened, causing the current dispute. It could not step in to approve additional places at New Bridge College in these circumstances.
No one, therefore, is confident of any resolution, let alone an early one.